NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 8- More than 10 senior government officials on Tuesday resigned from their positions, to seek elective posts in the August 9, elections.
Under Section 43(5) of the Elections Act, “a public officer who intends to contest an election under this Act shall resign from public office at least six months before the date of the election.”
Under Section 43(6), the Act however shields elected officials including the President, the Deputy President, Members of Parliament, County Governors, Deputy Governors, Members of County Assemblies from the provision.
Those who resigned on Tuesday include East African Community Cabinet Secretary Adan Mohammed and his Devolution counterpart Charles Keter.
Mohammed will be seeking the Mandera County gubernatorial seat while Keter is going back to his home County Kericho, to seek a similar mandate.
Keter has since joined Deputy President William Ruto’s led UDA party.
Petroleum and Mining CS John Munyes has also resigned from Cabinet to go vie for Turkana gubernatorial seat.
Seven Cabinet Administrative Secretaries also resigned from President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government to seek elective posts.
They include Patrick Ntuntu (Labour), Joseph Boinett (Tourism), John Mosonik (Petroleum and Mining), Wavinya Ndeti (Transport), Ken Obura (East African Community), Hassan Noor Hassan (Education) and Gideon Mung’aro (Devolution).
Fred Segor has also resigned as Wildlife Principal Secretary.
George Natembeya was the first to resign as Regional Commissioner for Rift Valley to vie for the Trans Nzoia gubernatorial seat.
The former Inspector General is will be vying for governor in Elegyo Marakwet County.
Mung’aro will face UDA’s Aisha Jumwa in the Kilifi gubernatorial race on an ODM ticket.
More government officials are expected to resign on Wednesday, according to the law.
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